Aircraft



H. E. KRAMMER Mayr 3, 1927.

' AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. lo 1921 .ATU

' ATIQRNFY 1,627,185 .May 3 1927' H. E, KRAMMER AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. 1o. 1921 'r sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY May 3 H. E. KRAMMER AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. l0. 1921 7 Sheets-.Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 1,627,185 May 3 1927- H. E. KRAMMER AIRCRAFT 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ild Jan l0, 1921 s` 529 l l am ATTORNEY May 3 1 927.

'H. E. KRAMMER AIRCRAFT Filed Jan.1o, 1921 '7 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY May 3,1927. 1,627,185

H. E. KRAMMER AIRCRAFT Filed Jan. lO, 1921 7 SheetsfSheet` 6 j 4;/ n

INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 3 1927' H. E. KRAMMER AIRCRAFT 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. l0, 1921 ATTORNEYS Patented lMay 3, 1927.

HENRY E. KRAMER, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

y AIRCRAFT.

Application led January 10, 1921. Serial No. $6,238.

This invention relates to aircraft and in a measure the present application may `be considered as a com anion case to my earlier application, Serial go. 376,325, filed August 4, 1920, because it also comprehends the separable inter-relation of aircraft units and pable of almost inst upon and taking off from `the dirigible, said elements to comprise, in unified form, a composite aircraft.

As in my said earlier application the present case includes the rigid, though separable, union of a dirigible andan airplane with all the same facilities of joint and separate operation, and means ofintercommunication; and further it possessesthese new characteristicszr- 1. The dirigible is provided with housing means for one or more airplanes whereby the latter may be entirelyA enclosed within the contour formation of the dirigible, so that with one or more airplanes contained or housed within the lighter-thanair craft, no additional head resistance'is" resentedin flight, and the contained airp ane or air.- planes are entirely concealed, although caantly taking Hight' from the dirigible.'

2. While the housing means for airplanes in the dirigible is capable of admitting and containing airplanes having'rigid or outspanned wings, I also provide collapsible -or telescopic wings for the airplanes, so that, with the Wing span contracted, a number of air planes may be ranged abreast, across the Width of the housing therefor. i

3. In the guided alighting means upon a dirigible for an airplane I now provide tensional retardation means to check the speed of the airplane while landing, thereby bring-k ing it to rest. 4. Separate means are provided for raising, and lowering an airplane between its housed position and position'for alighting raising and lowering means each comprisin telescopic shafts, operable by compresse air, or otherwise; one vof said shafts being seated in the cabin at the under side of the dirigible, and the other shaft being seated in the fuselage of an airplane that is in rigid, though separable, union with the dirigible, beneath the latter.

5. Rigid union between an air lane and a superposed dirigible is etecte by connecting struts which are composed each of tvsfo parts, one part having a socket to recelve a tongued portion of the other and a plunger rod transversely en ages oth sa1d parts to unite them. The p unger rod 'carrles 'a piston that is operable in a cylinder and compressed air may be introduced lnto the cylinder to move the iston and thus dlsengage the plunger rod rom the strut parts; also magnetic means may be applied to the Voperation of the plunger rod.

6. Also the airplane haslroller connection with the dirigible, through a slotted bearing in the latter,l affording supportV to the airplane when the strut engagement is released -and while the airplane is moving forwardly,

at greater speed than the dirigible, until the alrplane leaves the dirigible, in advance thereof. p. p

7. 'An alrplane unit, forming part of the 'composite aircraft, is capable of modification as by the separation therefrom of wing elements and fuselage elements until only a central fuselage' ,element remains, and said central element is provided with a set of supporting arachute-like wings, that are Anormally colapsed b ut are extensible by telescopic means, which" will permit the gradual .descent of said fuselage element.

8. Further, said extensiblel wings', in a minor'moditication of the aircraft,in which its power plant and control means are retained, 'are capable of supporting the craft in flight'.

9. The extensible wings are equipped with wireless apparatus whose operating motor, for sending a distress signal, is actuated by fans that are rotated in the parachute retarded descent ofthe craft.

Other features and advantages of my invention willhereinafter appear.

In the drawings Figure 'lis aside elevation of a composite aircraft according to my invention, artly brokenl away, showing the completelgf enclosedhousing means lin a dirigible for a number of airplanes, means for moving airplanes -to and from their housed' position and their position in alighting upon and taking o'- from a dirigible, and also means for the separation of rigidly connected airplane and dirigible units.

Figure 2 -is an end elevation of Figure 1.

art,

Figure 8 isa side elevation of a diri ble unit fromtwh'ich the airplane unit has een separat-ed', the latter vhaving its wlng end elements separated therefrom.

Figure 4 is a perspective elevation of an airplane unit that has been separated from a dirigible unit, said airplane unit having its entire main supporting wings and its fuselage tail portion separated and falling away therefrom, leaving the fuse-lage with its power plant and auxiliary control members intact, and with a set of normally collapsed auxiliary supporting members extended in superposed relation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the central fuselage section, with the power plant section and rear section carrying the auxiliary control members separated and falling away therefrom, the extended, su erposed supporting members in the view unctioning as a parachute to retard the speed of descent.

Figure 6 is a det-ail, in vertical sec-tion, of a parachute member, with a fan in its centered orifice, wireless a paratus, and a motor actuable by said fan or sending a distress signal.

Figure ure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of the sectional post forming part of the rolling connection between the dirigible and airplane units, showing the motor operated means for se arating the post sections.

igure 9 is an enlarged detail view of one of the sectional struts comprising the rigid connection between airplane and dirigible units, showing the compressed air and magnetic means for separating the strut sections.

Figure 10 is a detail, in section, of a wall in the guide channel of a dirigible for the reception of an alighting airplane, equipped with speed ret-arding means.

Figures 11 and'12 are, respectively, the front and rear portions, in side elevation, partly broken away to disclose structural features, of a heavier-than-air craft unit comprised in my invention.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view of uniting means for aircraft sections, and locking means therefor.

Figure 14 is a detail showing a portion of the telescopic means for extending collapsed aircraft sections, and

Figure 15 is a detail of burstable connecting means for aircraft units and elements.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown a dirigible 1 with which is rigidly connected an airplane 2 by means of struts vcomposed of two parts 3, 4, and a post composed of two parts, 5, 6, said struts and post having releasably engageable means, which will be described hereinafter.

The airplane, whose fuselage and keel portions comprise releasably engaged longitudi- 7 is a -partial plan View of Fignal sections, is supported beneath the dirigible that these two aircraft units may operate in unison in their connected relation, although when disconnected each of said units is independently o erable. Thus,-the dirigible umt is pnovidped with power lants 7, having propellers 8, and is equippe with all the usual control means these not being shown in the present views The airplane unit is shown as provided 76 with power plants 9, with propellers 10, carried by its wing structure 11, and with the usual controls and empennage. The fuselage element is represented as having the power plant 12, with propeller 13.

As in my former application, Serial No. 376,325, the dirigible unit is provided with an airplane alighting and taking off channel in its upper portion, said channel being here indicated at. 14; but the base 15 of said channel includes a vertically movable section 16, and said base serves as the upper covering for an airplane 4housing space 17, with sup orting base 18, that is entirely enclosed w en the section 16 is seated in its midway positiomso that the contained airplanes are-concealed from view, fully protected from the elements, and in noninterfering relation with the operation of the dirigible.

The section 16 is intended to be applied as a hoist, for, with an airplane that has landed in the channel and has been imposed upon said section, the latter, by means of the telescopic shaft 19, whose base is rooted in a well 20 provided therefor in the fuselage 21 of airplane 2, may be lowered to the base 18, then permitting the airplane it carries to be shifted into a suitable stored position in space 17 As indicated the space 17 may have sufficient length for the storage of alarge number of airplanes whose wings are outspanned` and, as shown in Fig. 2, this number may be increased where the airplane wings have been telescoped or contracted, thus enabling the width of space 17 to accommodate several airplanes abreast.

In Figure 1 there will be noted another telescopic hoisting device 22, seated in the cabin 23 of dirigible 1` and extensible through a passage vertically penetrating the dirigible to the housing space 17,-in order that it may sei-ve the purpose of raising and lowering section 16, instead of shaft 19, as when the airplane unit is separated from the dirigible.

The channel 14, which extends both rearwardly and forwardly of the dirigible, is intended to receive alightingr airplanes at its rearward portion` the airplane moving in the same direction of travel as the dirigible, and said channel, in its rearward portion is provided with spring extended detents24. (shown in 'detail in Figure 10) that project from the channel sides into the path of the aiighted. airplane, to yieldingly co-act with the fuselage. sides and thus impede the airplane speed of travel in the channel, thereby aiding the airplane to come to' rest. '.lhe forward portion of channel 14 is not equipped with these detents because the air# plane is to take off from this forward portion.

several airplanes abreast, with their wings.

contracted, may be secured upon the section 16, and operated to the saine effect.

I have indicated in Figure 2, at 26, a chan` nel covering-which may be slidable about the circular contoui' of the dirigible orotherwise applicable to open or close the channel 14, said covering, when adjusted to close the channel, thereby enabling the dirigible to present an unbroken contour surface, to avoid the creation of suction, speed-retard ing effects in flight.

The novel connecting and disconnecting means for the struts which reeasably provide for the rigid union of aircraft units in a composite structure, is more particularly shown in Figure 9, wherein the strut part 3 has an axial, tapered socket 27 to receive an axiah'tapered tongue 28 extended from the 4strut part 4. The part 3 also carries a lateral projection 28Il in theforin of a cylinder, in which is a piston 29, having a plunger rod 30, that works through a stutiing box 31, and slidably tits aligned orifices therefor in the socket and tongue portions respectively of parts 3 and 4, to unite said parts. A pipe connection 32 with cylinder 28 serves for the introduction of compressed air, or other expansible medium derived from a suitable Source (not shown), whereby tne pistonvis moved outwardly, thereby withdrawing rod 30 from its engagement with the tongue and socket, and releasing the engagement of-strut parts 3 and 4. The vent 33 permits the piston operation by exhaustingthe outward chamber 34. A spring 35 in said outward chamber normally holds the piston extended, with its rod 30 in engaged relation with` thesocketand tongue portions aforesaid.v Also, auxiliary to thev air ressure-operating means for piston 29, oror independent use, I provide an electro-inagnet 36, toco-act withv the piston 29 for its magnetic operation. f

A suitable number of struts, each coinposed of parts 3, 4, may be employed to connect the aircraft units 1, 2, to ensure the efiicientfrigidity of thatiinion; but, when the Strut parts 3, 4 are disconnected (and it is my purpose to cause the disconnection to occur at the saine time with all of these struts) then the only tie between units 1 and 2 will be thatafl'or'ded by the post composed of parts 5, 6, wliei'eo the part 6 is anchored in the unit 2 and the part 5 engages by a roller 37 with a longitudinally slotted bearing 38 along the bottom of the dirigible.

',Heiic'e, with the strut parts 3, 4'disconnected the airplane 2 will be free to travel forwardly with respect to the dirigible, the roller maintaining connective support for the airplane until said roller leaves its slot at a forward point along the diiigible, when the airplane will operate independently.

Should, however, it prove desirable for simultaneous disconnection of the post and struts, then the post parts disconnecting means shown in Figure 8 may be operated. By reference to said figure itwill be noted that the part 5 has an axial, threaded socket 39, with which is engaged a screw 40, that comprises an extension ot' rotor 4l, axially movable relatively thereto, and operable in avmagnetic field 42, thus comprisin a motor that is contained within a hollowe out portion ot' post pai't 6. The rotor has thrust bearing against a threaded plug 43, that closes the end of part 6, causing the Screw 4t) to withdraw from its engagement with part 5 under the operation of the motor.

As in my earlier application, Serial No. 376,325, my purpose in the present aircraft structure is to have elements of an aircraft unit rigidly but disengageably connected, the airplane unit having its fuselage composed ot' 'longitudinal sections, also the flotation or keel portion where the airplane is so equipped. TheI wings likewise are composed of sectional elements, thus permitting 'the lieavier-than-air unit to be susceptible oi nioditication, while under operation, to change its character while still leaving intact an operable portion, (see Figure 3).

The wing sections are connected by burst` able couplings which ai'e more particularly ieferred to hereinafter, and the entire wing structure is supported upon the fuselage by means of saddle-like members 45%, whichengage in seats 45 provided therefor. in the upper portion of the fuselage. Said members 45a areiii two parts, united as by burstable couplings. l n Thus, in Figure 4 I have showna view of an airplane unitfrom which the tailsection 44 has been detached; also both side wing elements 45, with the Ypower plants rthey carry. have been detached, leaving..however a modified unit 46 of operable naturel'v Said unit 46 now "comprises the fuselage portion 47, with keel vportion 48 whose rear-most section 48u may contain a mot-or; and engine llt) ric

' nections 51, which are 0 section 49, having members 51, with con.- rable in this modified form of the. arcra t, though they had been held stationarv, to be neutral, with the 'complete or unmodified form of the heavierthan-air unit.

Support for this modified form of airplane unit is atiorded by Aa super osed series of wings 52, carried by an extensi le mast 53, that is shown as telescoped with the wings 52 collapsed in Figures 1 and 2, but in Figure 4 is shown extended and with the wings extended for support and flight. lVhen the wings 52, with mast 53 are collapsed, said wings are then compactly seated in a saddle like recess 51 therefor in the upper surface of the fuselage.

It will be appreciated that in this moditied form of airplane the latter will be capable of sustained flight after the main supporting wings and tail portion have been removed. Obviously such removal, under operation of the craft, may have been necessitated by these parts having become damaged.

The mast 53 is extensible to its operative position by the application of compressed air or other expansion means, and its' sections respectively carry the wings 52 with them.

Should it occur that the power plant. section 49 and the rear fuselage section carrying control members 51 are also to be removed through damage thereto or for other reasons, then the craft will be further modified or reduced (as in Figure 5) to the central fuselage section 47, without power means or control, and the wings 52, being extended, may function as a multiple parachute, to permit the gradual descent of the thus shorn unit, thereby conveying the passengers in the fuselage safely to the surface of land or water. y

As seen in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, the wings 52 each have a central orifice or vent 55. This orifice is equipped with a spider 56, whose armsi'adiate from an annulus 57 that serves as a collar for engagement with a section of staff 53, and there is also rcvolubly mounted on the topmost staff section a fan 58, that in the descent of the parachute, is revolved by the passage of air through the orifice: the operation of the fan also having the efl'ect of helping to -retard the descent of the craft.

Also, the statt' 53, being hollow, contains a motor 59, whose rotor has an extended shaft 60, said shaft carrying the fan 58, so that the motor becomes energized through the fan rotation, and thus is enabled to automatically actuate a distress signal by means of wireless apparatus 61 carried by the topmost wing 52. The fan 58 is housed in a acter.

It will be apparent that the fuselage.ein-fi.A

ployed with the aircraft unit 2 of the present application corresponds'with that shown in my application Serlal No. 243,565, it having the telescoping sections 62, with spring' detents 63 carried by one section, to engage with holes 64 in an adjacent section, so that said sections will enter into locked relation when extended.

The detents 63 each have a plunger head 65 that is reciprocable in cylindrical housing (i6, and is normally urged outwardly, to project the detent.tln' mgh an orifice in the forward closed end of the housing, by means of a spring 67; while suitable means may also be provided for retracting said plunger and detent. As an example of such retracting means I have indicated in Figure 11 an electro-magnet 68; but in Figure 13 I have shown a pipe. 69, by which compressed air or other expansion power means may be introduced to the housing to ell'ect the retraction.

In either example of these detent retraction means for detachable release of aircraft sections, the control thereof may be actuated as by switch 63 or valve 69l from a central station, which I prefer to locate in the section 47, the control means being of such character that the detents may be retracted either simultaneously or selectively.

llach section is provided with a longitudinal groove 70 in the inner surface of its structural material to serve as a guide for a detent carried by an adjacent section, to direct said detent when drawing out the sections from a collapsed slate to their extended osition,-the ends of the detents lying against the grooves, under their spring tension until, with the sections in fully extended positions, the holes in adjacent sections come into alignment, and then the springs cause the detents to effect the locking engagement between the sections, to hold them extended.

In Figure 13 I have shown a detent 63 as threaded, and havingr lock nuts 7ll applied thereto, to prevent retraction and provide a rigid, permanent lock, for employment when the union of parts is not required to be disturbed. Although, when the craft is on the surface the aircraft sections may be extended by manual eil'ort, for which urpose the tail sect-ion is provided with a liandle 72, to be grasped by an operator for the purpose of drawing out the Sections, I also provide means whereby the sections may be extended while the craft is in the air. These means comprise a teler-copie shaft 73, which terminates at one end in or near the fuselage section 47 and is operable 'l therefrom, said shaft extending through all the sections to the tail section, with which it engages as at 74. For extending said shaft compressed air on other expansion medium may be introduced into it at its portionlyinir in or near section 47, as by valve 47 un er the control of an operator, and it is by such pressure means that the shaft is extended and serves to carry the sections of the aircraft out to their extended positions. In Figure 1l I have shown a pipe 75 as serving to'coiivey the expansion medium to shaft 7 3. The shaft 73 may be collapsed and thus caused to telescope the sections 62 by means of a cable 7 3 which is to be wound on a drum 7 3". Y While I have particularly illustrated the detent locking and releasing means in coiiiiection with the fusela e sections of an aircraft, I also intend t e collapsible wings employed with m improved aircraft to be similarly provide in order that they also may be collapsed and extended throuoh similar agencies and under like contio s: As an indication thereof, to be apparent iii the drawings, the wing structure in Figiire 1l, will be seen to have instrumentaliaties corresponding to those described witlr respect to the fuselage sections. The" keel portion 48 of the airplane fuselage is coinsed of endwise sections 76, which each hiive a T-head upper' portion 77, for longitudinally slidable engagement with a saddle-like or dove-tail channel 78 formed in the under surface of the fuselage, so that said keel sections may be removably connected thereto. Also, adjacent sections are respectively provided, with end-wise abutting lugs 79 and recesses 80 to receive them, to connect the sections against vertical displacement. Thev sections 76 are each divided iiito upper and lower air-tight compartments 81 and 82.

As in my earlier application Serial No. 37 6,325 the aircraft units and elements com* prised herein are releasably and detachably united by couplings that are burstable by power expansion means, of which a detail is shown in Figure 15, as including the .casing 83, to contain an expansion medium, and the mechanical connecting means 84 whereby said casing is attached respectively to adjacent bodies. These mechanical ,connecting means, forming part of the burstable coupling, will be found in a number of vthe figures of the drawings, where the bodies have been detached, and where the bodies are shown attached the burstable couplings are indicatedby the numeral 83. n

The keel 48 is provided with a propeller 85 that can be operated by a motor contained in the rearmostkee section 48 as in mvcase Serial No. 376,325; and also has a rudder 86, for control of the craft both on water and in the air. t

mames Variations within the slpirit and scope of my invention are equa y comprehended herein.

I claim:

1. A dirigible having an alighting channel and provided with closure means therefor included inl its circular contour.

'2. A dirigible havin means included in its circular contour foriousing an air plane whose wings are out-spanned and closure means therefor also included in said circular contour.

3. A dirigible having means for the alighting thereon of an airplane, closure housing means, and means for moving an airplane to and from said housing means. 4. A dirigible having an alightin channel for airplanes, housing means below said channel, and means for moving an airplane between the level of said channel and said housing means.

5. A diri ible having an alighting channel for airp anes, housing means below said channel, a vertically movable base section for said channel, and operating means for said section whereby an airplane sup orted thereon may be moved between said c annel and said housing means.

6. A dirigible having an alightin channel for airplanes, a vertically mova le sec,- tion for said channel, and operating means for said section whereby an airplane secured thereon may be moved between said channel and an elevated position.

7. A dirigible having an alighting channel for airplanes, and resilient means in said channel in the path of an airplane fuselage, to retard the speed of the airplane in said channel.

8. An airplane Whose wings are composed of .panwise telescopic sections, separate interlocking means between adjacent sections to hold said sections extended, and lock releasinv means to permit their contraction.

9. Iii a composite aircraft comprisin a dirigible unit and an airplane unit, in (glisengaveably secured superposed relation, said dirigible having means for the alighting thereon of an independent aircraft, in combination, means seated in said airplane unit and extensible through said dirigible unit for vertically moving said independent aircraft relatively to said dirigible unit, and also auxiliary means, seated in said dirigible unit, and extensible therethrough for similarly moving said independent aircraft.

10. In a composite aircraft comprising a dirigible unit and an airplane unit, the coinbination of two part struts connecting said units, uniting means for said strut parts, and pressure means to release said uniting means.

11. Connecting means for separate aircraft units comprising a socket member engaging one unit, 'a tongue member engaging the other unit, a plunger rod enga said socket and tongue members, a cy n er, a piston carrying said plunger rod and operatlng in said cylinder, and means for introducing air under ressure into sald cylinder, to actuate said plston and release said lun er rod from its en agement with sa1 soc et and ton ue mem ers.

12. eans for rigidly engaging separate aircraft units, com rising a plunger` rod engageable with sai units, and compressed air means for releasin said plunger rod to thereb disconnect sai aircraft units.

13. eans for rigidly engaging separate aircraft units comprising a plunger rod enageable with said units, tensional means to gold said rod in operative position, and compressed air means for .-releasin said rod to thereb disconnect said aircra t units.

14. cans for rigidly engaging separate aircraft units comprising a plun er rod engageable with said units, an magnet1c means for releasingsaid plunger rod to thereb release said aircraft units.

15. n a composite aircraft, in combination, a dirigibleunit having a guide slot, an airplane umt having a post, and a roller carried'by said ost for engagement with said guide Slot, w ereby said airplane unit may travel in advance of said dirigible unit in guided relation therewith until the roller leaves the guide slot.

16. In a composite aircraft, in comblnation a' dirigible unit having a guide slot, an airplane unit having a post, and a roller carried b said post for engagement w1th said gui e slot, said post comprising a socket member and a threaded member engagin said socket, and a motor to rotate said t readed member and thereby release it from said socket member.

17. An airplane havin detachable fuselage sections, and means for modifying said airplane while operating above the surface by detaching fuselage sections therefrom.

18. An aircraft having lateral wings and superposed, normally collapsed., wings, means for detaching sald lateral Win s under operation, and means for eX- ten in said collapsed wings for support.

19. in airplane having an auxiliary set of normallycollapsed, suiperposed, central win s, each with a centra orifice, means for i mo ifying said airplane under operation by detaching therefrom its Wings, also the fuselage sectlons including the power plant and control members, and means for extending said central wings whereby said modified aircraft may then serve as a parachute.

20. A parachute comprising a set of super'- posed wings, extensible from a fuselage section, each win having a central orice, and a fan mounte in one of the orifices to retard the speed of descent.

21. A parachute comprising a set of supercentral posed wings, extensible froma fuselage' section, each wing having a vent ori-tice, a fan mounted in an orifice to retard the s d of descent, a wireless apparatus carried y said arachute, and a motor energized by said an for the issuance of a distress signal.

22. A-parachute havin a fan mounted in its vent oriicea motor w ose energ is generated by said fan in the descent of t e parachute, and signal means actuable by said motor.

23. A dirigible having means within its cross-sectiona circular contour for coinpletely housing an air plane, and means whereby communication to and from said housing may be had under operation.

24. A dirigible having a recessed landin channel for an air plane, and provided wit removable covering means for said channel included in its circular contour.

25. An aircraft having separable units and elements, uniting means therefor, non-manual power release means for said uniting means, and control means for the selective and combined actuation of said release means.

26. An aircraft having separable units and elements, uniting means therefor, nonmanual power release means for said uniting means, actuable while the aircraft is under operation, and control means for the selective and combined actuation of said release means.

27. An aircraft having a recessed runway channel for the releasable engagement therewith of another aircraft.

28. An aircraft having a recessed runway channel in its lower portion and another aircraft having roller means for releasably engaging said channel.

29. Uniting means for aircraft units which is in part revoluble for engaging and disengaging purposes, and non-manual power means for actuating said uniting means.

30. Aircraft units having means of shiftable engagement one with another, and nonmanual ower means for shifting one of said units re atively to another.

31. Aircraft units having revoluble means of separable engagement one with another, and non-manual power means for revolving said engagin means to separate one of said units from t e other.

32. The combination with an aircraft of superposed airplanes in detachable and separable homogeneous engagement therewith.

33. The combination with an aircraft of` a superposed airplane in detachable and separable engagement therewith, said airplane having telescopic wings, and pneumatic means for eXtendin and contracting said wings, under operation.

34. The combination with an aircraft of a superposed airplane in detachable and separable engagement therewith, said airplane having telescopic wings, and pneumatic means for contracting said Wings, under operation.

35. An airplane whose fuselage is composed ofl individually detachable and separable sections Which are telescopic while the airplane is in operation.

36. An air lane whose fuselage lis'composed of individually detachable and sep-p arable telescopic sections, and means for extending and contracting said fuselage.

37. An airplane whose fuselage is composed of individually detachable and separable telescopic sections, and non-manual power means for extending said fuselage.

38. An airplane whose fuselage is composed of individually detachable and separable telesco ic sections, and means for contracting said' fuselage, under operation.

39. An airplane whose wings are composed of telescopic sections, and pin and slot means for guiding said sections While being extended.

40. An airplane whose wings are coinposed of telescopic sections, plunger means for locking said sections in their extended positions, and guide means for said locking means while being extended.

41. An airplane whose wings are coinposed of telescopic sections, plunger means for locking said sections in their extended positions, and lock release means actuable under operation of the airplane.

42. An airplane whose wings are composed of telescopic sections, plunger means for locking said sections in their extended positions, and securing means for said locking means.

43. An airplane whose fuselage is coniposed of telescopic sections, and pin and slot means for guiding said sections While being extended.

44. An airplane Whose fuselage is composed of telescopic sections, plunger means for locking said sections in their extended positions, and guide means for said locking means While being extended.

45. An airplane Whose fuselage is composed of telescopic sections, plunger means for locking saidv sections in their extended positions, and lock release means actuable under operation of the airplane while being extended.

46. An airplane whose fuselage is composed of telescopic sections, plunger means for locking said sections in their extended positions, and securing means for said locking means.

47. The combination in an airplane, of an element thereof composed of telescopic sections, means for extending said sections, locking plunger means and lock releasing means for said sections in their extended positions,` said locking and lock releasing. means heilig housed within said element.

48. The combination, in an airplane, of an element thereof composed of tele'lco ic sections, means for extending and means for contracting said sections, phin'ger means for contracting said sections, means for locking said sections when extended, and non-manual power means for releasing said locking means. Y

51. An aircraft having a body portion and provided with superposed, normally collapsed, curved support elements, said body ortiori having a curved seat for the receptlon of said elements.

52. An aircraft having an auxiliary support element with a vent orifice, a fan revoluble in said orifice, andan electric generator energizable by said fan in the operation of said support element.

53. An aircraft having an auxiliary support element with a vent orifice, a fan revoluble in said orifice, a housing for said fan, and an electric generator energizable by said fanvin the operation of said support element.

54. An aircraft having an auxiliary support element with a vent orifice, a fan revoluble in said orifice, an electric generator, a housing therefor, and connecting means whereby the operation of said fan serves to energize said generator.

An aircraft having a support element `with a vent orifice, a fan revoluble in said orifice, an electric generator energizable by said fan, signalling means, and means whereby energy from said generator serves to actuate said signalling means.

56. An aircraft having separately detachable propelling steering and stabilizing elements, and means whereby said aircraft may be propelled, steered and stabilized after the detachment, under operation, of said elements.

57. In'combination with a relativelylarge aircraft, means for receiving, durin flight, a relatively smaller aircraft and ousing the said smaller aircraft within the stream line of the larger aircraft, said means including an aperture in the external skin of the said larger aircraft and a door ada ted aircraft during Hight of the lar er aircraft to close said aperture substantially ush and power means to open and cse the said with the said external skin. openmg.

' 58. In combination with a rela-tively large Signed at thc borough of Manhattan in the 5 aircraft having an opening into the inclosed city, county and State o f New York this 7th portions of said aircraft, said opening day of J anual-y, A. D. 1921. Y adapted to permit the entrance of a smaller HENRY E. KRAMMER. 

